The Travel Foundation is an independent charity, which aims to ensure that tourism from the UK gives a greater benefit to the people, environment and economy in destination countries. It has developed and implemented a number of projects aimed at improving hotel practices in relation to water and energy consumption. In partnership with TUI-Travel PLC, they have identified Rhodes as an appropriate destination for a new waste management project, which will involve working with local hotels and influencing the local government/municipality in making policy and infrastructural improvements in relation to solid waste management.

If you interested in tendering for this project, please click here for more information.

A new body aimed at promoting the South West as a hotspot for environmental technologies and services has been formed.

Low Carbon South West (LCSW), which has been created from the merger between the Bristol Environmental Technologies & Services Initiative (BETS) and the environmental activities of the University of Bath's Innovation Centre (BIC), will become the largest trade body of its type in the UK and will promote the thriving green industry in the region.

Membership-based it will provide a number of benefits to environmental sector organisations already based in the region and those looking to locate in the South West, including access to information for business development and collaboration opportunities; networking events; and the opportunity to influence the government's green policies.

The body, funded by both publc and private sector support and activities,  will be based in Queen Square in Bristol. It will be holding a celebration event to mark its official launch in September. It is also currently planning an environmental trade show at the UWE conference centre in 2011, which will be the largest ever event of its kind in the region.

Chairman of LCSW, Alan Bailey, said: "We have created Low Carbon South West as it was a natural extension of the separate activities of BETS and BIC in the environmental sector. It made sense to bring these two organisations together and to work in association with other environmental sector bodies, companies and organisations to fulfil a regional  remit to put the South West on the map as a UK hub for innovation, collaboration and growth in the green industries sector.

"It also fulfils the regional agenda to promote the South West to national and international businesses and other organisations in order to attract inward investment and thereby support job creation and the future wellbeing of our economy, critical in these challenging times."

BIC's Simon Bond, who is Deputy Chair and Head of Innovation at LCSW, added: "The creation of a region-wide body for promoting the green industries, both technology and service providers, will ensure that the South West will be seen as a major force in this burgeoning sector.

"As a region we have significant potential to become a global capital for the environmental sector and LCSW will support this ambition by opening up opportunities for international collaboration and the creation of innovative technological and service developments; significant inward investment in the South West; and business development regionally, nationally and globally. We will also ensure a voice in Westminster for the green industries in the region. In doing so we aim to broaden our membership base, which currently stands at 500 organisations and individuals, to also include national and international organisations."

Leading solar and wind installation and development company The Green Company (Europe) Limited ("TGC") announces that it has secured investment from leading private investment fund, Constantine Group plc. Baker Tilly Corporate Finance and Veale Wasbrough Vizards advised TGC on this transaction which will enable the business to continue its successful development.

Established in 2006 and with offices in Bristol and Glasgow, TGC installs and develops solar photovoltaic (PV) farms and also medium scale wind turbine projects for landowners, businesses and investors. The company provides customers with a turn-key service from initial concept, through permitting, installation, commissioning and operations.

The funding from Constantine, which has over 125 years' investment experience, provides the increased capital TCG needs for the continued growth and security of its renewable partners over the life of the FiT and beyond.

Ben Cosh, Managing Director of The Green Company, said; "The Green Company has led the way in distributed renewables in the UK for the past four years and with the introduction of the 25-year returns available from the feed-in tariff we required an investor who would work with us and be involved for the long term.

"We were impressed with Constantine's long term view, mirroring the long term nature of solar and wind projects and the long term issues embodied in energy security and climate change".

Constantine Group is celebrating its 125th year of trading in 2010 and as part of its entrance into the energy sector has acquired a 33% stake.

Nigel Prescot, Chief Executive of Constantine Group, said on completion of the transaction: ‘We have been looking for a strategic investment into renewable energy for some time. Ben Cosh and his team have the experience and dedication to maintain TGC's market leading position in this fast growing sector".

Baker Tilly Corporate Finance Partner, Andrew Killick who led the transaction advice added: "Many companies have tried to jump on the Feed-in Tariff bandwagon but very few have the track record and experience of TGC, and I believe that bringing it together with Constantine will be to the benefit of both parties".

Nathan Guest, Corporate Partner at Veale Wasbrough Vizards who advised the Company on the investment said: "Having assisted The Green Company through its early development stages, Constantine's investment gives the Company an exciting future both here in the South West and across the UK as a whole".

ENQUIRIES:

Rob Denman, Director, The Green Company. T. +44 (0)117 905 5082 E. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Green Company: www.the-green-company.com

Constantine Group plc: www.constantinegroup.com

Baker Tilly: www.bakertilly.co.uk

Veale Wasbrough Vizards: www.vwv.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• The Green Company (TGC) was established in 2006 and was the first wind turbine company in the country to successfully obtain its Microgeneration Certificate (MCS). The team has carried out 1000's of planning applications and has a 95% success rate with wind turbines.
• TGC is developing its own solar and wind projects and also works on a consultancy + build for clients and investors across sites that are residential, commercial and agricultural.
• TGC is operating solar farm public consultation exhibitions across Cornwall from August 9th-11th 2010 for its 2-5MW solar plants that it is currently developing.
• Constantine Group plc is a privately-owned investment company which began as a shipping company in Middlesbrough in 1885. It is a long term investor and works closely with the local management to develop businesses to achieve their strategic objectives
• Baker Tilly is the trading name of a number of separate legal entities which together form a £191m (gross fee income), top 10 business of accountancy, tax and business advisers to entrepreneurial businesses. Baker Tilly has over 1,750 members of staff and over 260 partners with 28 offices throughout the UK.
• Baker Tilly International is the world's 8th largest accountancy and business advisory network by combined fee income of its independent members. It is represented by 147 independent firms in 114 countries with combined fee income of US$3.13bn and 26,000 people worldwide.
• Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a full service law firm providing sector focused services nationally in Education & charities, Healthcare, Public Sector and Family Owned Businesses. The firm also offers a dedicated service to Private clients.
• The firm has a 12 lawyer Early Stage Advisory Team, consisting of 8 partners and 4 other senior lawyers, focused on supporting entrepreneurs and early stage businesses. Over the last 3 years the Corporate Department (25 lawyers, including 8 partners) has advised on more than 200 deals, with an aggregate value in excess of £1billion.